In one memorable night he showed why he will forever be ranked among the greatest.

After reaching the heights with Manchester United, after lifting the European Cup, after wowing them in the States, Best pulled on the shirt of non-league Nuneaton and was again hailed a superstar.

Why the match was held

It was 1983 and Borough had a £40,000 tax bill.

To raise money, the club made an audacious approach to Best, asking him to play at Manor Park in a friendly against First Division neighbours Coventry City.

Many dismissed it as a pie-in-the-sky idea. Some scoffed at what was thought to be a publicity stunt.

Best, who was then going on 37, had officially retired from the professional game.

He had recently returned from playing in the American League and, in his own words, "was enjoying himself, going to the gym every day and playing in friendly matches up and down the country."

How did it come about?

He was invited to take part in the Borough game by Noel Cantwell, who was a father figure during his days at Old Trafford.

Cantwell, who managed the Sky Blues in the late 60s, had been contacted by an old friend from Ireland, Borough director Sean Patterson.

The headline-grabbing announcement "Best to play for Nuneaton" was finalised during a lunchtime meeting at the Inn on the Park in London.

That was when Best said: "I will definitely be there. I am looking forward to it. I am playing well at the moment, so Coventry City had better look out."

A week later, on a bitter cold March night, in front of a 4,000-plus crowd, he was as good as his word.

Best arrived with a beauty queen on his arm, in the fur-coated shape of ex-Miss World Mary Stavin.

He looked fit and well. He signed autographs. He gave television interviews - and once on the pitch he conjured up 90 minutes of sheer class.

The years rolled back and the skill shone through.

George Best

Match details

Coventry fielded their full first team, although many of them played out of position in the first half, with Jim Melrose, Steve Hunt and Mark Hateley lining up in defence and Brian Roberts and Paul Dyson up front.

But all eyes were on Best. He was in midfield and began to show all the old touches, to give City's international full-back Danny Thomas a testing time

Bursts of acceleration may have been lacking - but Best was in fine form. He hit an inch-perfect 30-yard pass to lay on the opening goal after 23 minutes and eight minutes later Borough went 2-0 ahead - with a goal inspired and scored by Best.

A delicate pass with the outside of the foot found Paul Culpin. The striker slipped the ball to Richard Hill, who was hauled down by Melrose for a penalty.

Best stepped up, hardly pulled back his left foot but buried the spot kick past Les Sealey into the bottom corner.

City reduced the arrears just before half time through Dyson, who went back to his normal centre-half spot for the second half as Best drifted out wide but continued to dazzle.

Another superb pass saw Borough have a goal disallowed for offside. But they held on to their 2-1 lead. Then, at the final whistle, Best sprinted down the tunnel, as the fans swarmed on to the pitch to acclaim a brilliant individual performance.

The match raised a much-needed £7,000 for Borough - and at a reception in the town's George Eliot Hotel after the match, Best sipped a mineral water and announced he was considering offers of a playing comeback and a Hollywood film.

Read More

Nuneaton Borough latest

Sad decline

Neither actually happened. In the 20 years that followed, Best gradually lost his way.

Sadly, the footballer who was everyone's idol became his own worst enemy.

At the time of his Nuneaton appearance, Best was in one of his alcohol- free periods. And it showed.

He looked healthy and happy.

But, a descent into a booze-fuelled lifestyle eventually left the once twinkled-toed, sparkling-eyed Irishman stumbling, dazed, ill and depressed.

It would eventually kill him in 2005.

This is not the way he should be remembered.

Far better to recall his magic moments on the football field; the impish wizard in a scarlet red or emerald green shirt; that wondrous night at Wembley; those six FA Cup goals against Northampton; one marvellous volley at Highfield Road; the cheeky flicks; the balance-defying dribbles.

And, of course, that night in March 1983 when he became Nuneaton Borough's most famous signing, set Manor Park alight - and really was The Best.